Merrill - Repeated sexual harassment at a Northwoods restaurant will not be tolerated. That's what the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission made clear today. The EEOC helped slap the New Pine Ridge Restaurant in Merrill with a $41,000 federal settlement.The lawsuit claimed a cook at the restaurant just off of Highway 51 created a sexually hostile work environment.
He repeatedly made crude remarks and grabbed waitresses breasts. Then, instead of stopping the cook's harassment, the owner fired some of the waitresses instead. The cook didn't stop working in the restaurant until months after lawyers filed criminal charges against him. Along with the fine, the restaurant needs to train the owner, managers and employees on sexual harassment laws.